The famine in the Middle East was severe and Jacob said to his sons, “Go again; buy us a little more food” (Genesis 43:2).
Judah reminded his father that they needed to bring Benjamin if they were to return to Egypt. He said, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you'” (Genesis 43:3).
In yesterday’s article, I asked readers to imagine The Godfather movie and hear the dialogue between Jacob and his sons through the eyes of the aged Don Corleone.
Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?”
They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” (Genesis 43:6-8).
In several of our YouTube videos, Rudy Ross has highlighted Judah’s character development. What he said to his father in this encounter is another example of his maturing character.
Then Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and let us be on our way, so that we may live and not die—you and we and also our little ones.
I myself will be surety for him; you can hold me accountable for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.
If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice” (Genesis 43:8-10).
There is an adage that says, “Like a toothpaste tube, when you get squeezed you discover what is on the inside.” Jacob’s family was squeezed by the famine and we discover the inner character of the key members.
Genesis identifies Jacob as “Israel” in these verses, possibly because he represents a nation and not just a family. The brothers return to Egypt with double money and gifts for the governor (Joseph).
Joseph and Benjamin
When Joseph saw his younger brother, he was moved with compassion.
*When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon” (Genesis 43:16).
The brothers, filled with guilt, misunderstood Joseph’s kindness.
Now the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money, replaced in our sacks the first time, that we have been brought in, so that he may have an opportunity to fall upon us, to make slaves of us and take our donkeys” (Genesis 43:18).
They told their story to the steward, who replied: “Rest assured; do not be afraid; your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your sacks for you; I received your money” (Genesis 43:23).
Simeon, who had been in prison, was returned to them and they prepared to have a meal with Joseph.
Reflections
Hunger was not a theoretical issue as a part of a Bible study for Jacob and his family. They knew that if they didn’t get food, they and all the people connected with them would die.
This is also true in 2025 for the 343 million people in 74 countries who are food insecure, according to the World Food Program.
The only time I’ve felt true hunger was while fasting. Even though I had small amounts of food to keep me going, thoughts of hunger and the absence of food were persistently on my mind.
Leo Gibson is a well-known soccer player in our area, who grew up in an African nation where food was scarce.
His mother worked extremely hard, and after school, Leo played soccer with a rolled-up ball of rags to keep from thinking about being hungry until his mother came home from work with food for the family.
Jacob’s family’s desperation drove them to reunite with Joseph.
Reflecting on Joseph’s story and the plight of hungry families reminds us that countless individuals today go to bed not with the comfort of Bible study, but with a gnawing hunger that forces them into dire situations.
Let’s let this story remind us to pray for the world’s disadvantaged today.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage today.
Real Voices 